Haze over Saipan in February 2008

Juan Lizama, Jr. peeked through the door and said "lets go, I'm late." I looked at the watch and it was only 7:11 a.m. This little guy was harassing me to take him to school already. His siblings have already left on foot. I woke up this morning wondering why I was having a bad headache. As I got out of the house, I immediately noticed the bad smell of sulfur in the air. It was not a good thing to wake up to. It totally sucks. This meant that haze is back on top of Saipan again. The wind has shifted allowing ash from the volcanic island of Anatahan to head our way. Today's case was not as bad as the one's we've had in 2007. People got really sick. I had my headache, but it was managable. Anyway, while I was out doing errands, I took a few photos. Check them out below. Notice that the haze cleared the clouds off to the east as it rammed over the CNMI:


Shot #'s 1&2: Neihbors and the Koblerville Sub-station.

Shot # 3: Koblerville/As Lito traffic light.

Shot #4: Going past the Department of Agriculture heading towards Chalan Piao. Haze showing just above the horizon.

Shot #5: Chalan Kano main road. Background is a little hazie.

Shot #6: Clear blue sky. See a cloud anyone? No airplanes flying over the CNMI (smoking and flying don't mix).

Shot #7 (above) & #8 (below): Susupe, Beach Road -- Mount Tapochau in the background.

Shot #9: Microl Intersection, San Jose.

Shot #10: Saipan lagoon. This is taken right in front of the Joeten Motors Auto Dealer. The smell of sulfer still in the air. I tried covering my mouth and nose, but no use. No mask. Headache still there. The shots above were taken as I was heading north on beach road. The ones below are taken as I was heading back south.

Shot #11: (Chalan Kanoa) I am standing right across from the Mt. Carmel Cathedral. I am trying to capture the clouds in the background. More below:

Shot #14: I took this from inside the Jeep. It's not as clear as I wanted it to be.

Shot #15: As Lito road.

Shot #16: A flat tire ended my photo session. Freakin' darn. I ran into a rebar that was left lying out in the grass. It knocked the air out of my front wheel so fast I didn't know what hit me. I had to get my Jeep towed home. What a day.